Saturday, February 13, 2010

Normally the Lib Dems keep out of trouble and generally avoid bad publicity; however Jenny Tonge has certainly put her foot in her mouth.

Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader has sacked her as his health spokeswoman in the House of Lords.

The subject comments she made about alleged organ trafficking in Haiti.

If you look in the web, you will find such stories about Israelis and organ traffic king but these only exist as allegations.

Jenny Tonge in an interview to the Jewish Chronicle said there should be an inquiry into claims that Israeli troops sent there after the earthquake were trafficking organs.

This prompted Nick Clegg to say the comments were "wrong, distasteful and provocative" and subsequently he dismissed her from her post.

He also delivered an apology saying she apologised "unreservedly" for any offence she had caused.

The allegations first appeared in the Palestine Telegraph of which she is a patron of its news website.

Baroness Tonge told the Jewish Chronicle;

"To prevent allegations such as these - which have already been posted on You Tube - going any further, the IDF and the Israeli Medical Association should establish an independent inquiry immediately to clear the names of the team in Haiti."

If there was an inquiry every time something was alleged on youtube, no one would get any work done.

Nick Clegg in defending Tonge said;

"While I do not believe that Jenny Tonge is anti-semitic or racist, I regard her comments as wholly unacceptable”.

No stranger to being controversial in 2004 she made remarked about Palestinian suicide bombers;

"If I had to live in that situation - and I say that advisedly - I might just consider becoming one myself."

In 2006, she was reprimanded by Lib Dem whips after saying the party was "probably in the grip" of the pro-Israel lobby.

So, this latest political gaffe is in the same vein of previous, the Lib Dems jumped in quick to kill the story by sacking her.